Hi! I am new to this site and this is my first post. I suffer from disks issues from L3, L4 and L5. I have been working with pains clinics and now taking Gabapentin, but it's making me gain weight. What else is there for nerve pain? I am allergic to anything oxy and I take vicoden, cymbalta and xanax (I have an anxiety disorder as well). The gabapentin is working, but I can't handle the weight gain. My family has some obesity and staying healthy and thin is important to me. I have noticed since starting the gabapentin and I very self conscience and I am so bloated I can't get my wedding rings off. Any advice/ideas you have would be helpful.

i wanted to pop on and welcome you aboard. Glad you found us but sorry you are having so much pain. Jim has given you the same info i would have. Hopefully you and your doc can work something out. Hope you will keep posting with us and keep us up to date on your situation.

I too was on gabapatin and it worked for awhile but soon stoppped. I now am on Savilla and it began working after just a few days and has really worked and no major side effects. I have to take it with food or it makes me sick otherwise it's pretty easy to take.

Just so you know- Lyrica helped me (even though it is pregabalin) for some reason it worked for me when pregabalin would not. Now it did make me very sleepy for awhile- but like any medication it wears off once you are used to it. I'm on 100mg 4xs daily. (A pain clinic/neurologist can prescribe a higher dosage than recommended) I know the frustration. Savilla did not work at all for me- & I liked Cymbalta, but my shrink took me off of it since I started taking Prozac. (combo for anti-depressant) Lyrica can be pricey even with insurance, Pfizer will give it to you for free if your doctor okays your need for it. (even with insurance it can be expensive) & usually my doctor's office carries samples. Even my PCP (even though he does not prescribe it) will load me up on it when I visit cause he knows A) how much medicine I need B) how expensive it all gets. Of course everyone is different. Good luck!!

Might work for you it helps me I take Opana ER and Klonopin for anxiety plus other meds I have to take.

For break through pain I have Oxy but you would need something else since you can't take Oxy.

I don't like to suggest medication dose only able to say what I have to take for pain because I'm not a doctor and feel that's something they need to decided if they decided to try the same type of meds.

I like neuron tin/gabapentin ..I have been using it for years. I tried the Lyrica but would get mouth sores and cymbalta made me physcho. Neurontin has least amount of side effects and it is not a narcotic.Good luckCrohns dx,Pelvic Floor Tension,Pelvic Adhesive dx,interstitial cystitis,ileostomy,chronic pain,arthritis,fibromyalgia,severe 42 degree scoliosis,degenerative disc dx,neurological impingement,pelvic tilt and complete loss of neck curve. 4th degree tear during childbirth with 13 reconstructive surgeries (including fistulas) resulting in chronic pelvic pain and an ileostomy. Bp and panic attacks.

Aside from Neurontin and Cymbalta (both of which are useful for some individuals with nerve pain), you could try a trail of Lyrica to replace the Neuro, but keep in mind it is more potent and longer lasting. Some state less side effects from it, some state more so its a gamble.

In addition to these, there is also Bustrans (a C-III patch that's a partial opioidnarcotic and NRI and with its low level devliery system can be used with breakthrough narcotics for pain). It seems the patch has had some success and that side effects are fairly low.

What I am currently prescribed is specifically geared towards nerve pain and is a called Nucynta aka tapentadol (a C-II narcotic that has a dual mechanism of action, a full opioid narcotic and NRI). Its less potent than oxyocodone on its narcotic proprties but makes up the difference with its fairly potent NRI properties, and it lasts about 6 hours with reduce gastro intestinal effects but increased stimulatory ones.

....lastly there's tramadol, which might not be an option if you are on cymbalta due to Seratonin Syndrome.MRI revealed disc bulge and test injections revealed RA. Radio Freq procedures helped for months, but pain is up and im having the procedure done again. Currently on 75 mgs of Nucynta (tapentadol - A MOR + NRI) 2 to 3 time per day and Soma 350 as needed.

Grain has some pretty good suggestions to look into. Just wanted to make a note that Lyrica is rather expensive and some of the insurance providers balk at apporval for it,.. for that reason. However, I do think it is a worthy suggestion.

I also think it is a good idea to look at some of the natural OTC supplements as well....like Magnesium and White Willow Bark. Do a web-search on them...and see if they might interest you....but make sure you ask your PCD before adding them to your daily med's. I think Grain...can provide a better list than I can of some of these to take a peek at. I just happened upon these today while doing some research.

Take care,

SE Moderator Chronic Pain Forum

Weekly Quote!

"Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward."